UEFA awards 3-0 win to Italy after Serbia trouble

UEFA has awarded Italy with a 3-0 victory after their Euro 2012 qualifier against Serbia in Genoa was abandoned due to crowd trouble. Serbia will also have to play their next two home games behind closed doors.

The game on October 12 was delayed for 35 minutes following crowd trouble and when it finally did start, the referee called off proceedings after only seven minutes when Serbian supporters hurled flares onto the pitch and in the direction of Italian fans.

Serbian supporters were also filmed attempting to smash Perspex barriers at Stadio Luigi Ferrari and cutting through protective nets separating them from the pitch.

The Italian Football Federation (FIGC) has said in a statement that UEFA has awarded a 3-0 win to Italy and imposed further sanctions on Serbia, though this has not yet been confirmed officially by UEFA.

Italy have also incurred a suspended one-match stadium ban, according to the FIGC.

A statement from the governing body detailed "a 3-0 victory in favour of Italy and two games behind closed doors for Serbia, of which one is conditional. Italy have been given a conditional one game behind closed doors.

"This is the decision of the disciplinary commission of UEFA which met today [Friday] in Nyon, based on the abandonment of the game between Italy and Serbia on October 12 in Genoa following the crowd unrest by Serbian fans."

Serbia have been fined €120,000 and Italy €100,000. Serbian fans will also not be allowed to buy tickets for their national team's away games. Both federations have six days to appeal against the decision.

The news means the Azzurri will be three points clear in Group C after four matches. Serbia are second bottom, above Faroe Islands, with four points from four games.